Packaging apparatus



Oct. 1, 1968 R. F. scHuLTz 3,403,902

' PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 6, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 www Oct. l,1968 R. F. scHuLTz 3,403,902

PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 6, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWMIHIHH MmmmUnited States Patent O 3,403,902 PACKAGING APPARATUS Robert F. Schultz,Mount Prospect, Ill., assignor to National Dairy Products Corporation,New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 6, 1967, Ser. No.614,240 2 Claims. (Cl. 271-1) ABSTRACT oF THE DISCLOSURE Y Apparatus foruse in combination with an automatic packaging machine which is adaptedto lift a pre-selected part of a stack of lids in timed relation tomeans for sliding the bottommost lid from the stack of lids so that theweight of the lifted part of the stack of lids will not interfere withthe sliding.

This invention relates to packaging apparatus and, more particularly,relates to cartoning apparatus comprising means for automaticallydispensing carton lids.

Various commercial packaging machines are available which provide forautomatic dispensing of cartons, filling the cartons with a desiredproduct, dispensing lids in proper relation to the cartons, and closingthe cartons. Such commercial machines, however, are designed for generaluse in dispensing and filling a wide variety of cartons and appropriatelids. Frequently, operating difficulties are encountered when thesecommercial machines are used for filling and sealing a particular cartonand and lid arrangement, and one such particular difficulty relates todispensing of the lids.

One type f automatic dispensing device for the lids operates to removethe bottommost lid from a stack of lids by sliding the lid from beneaththe stack. The weight of the stack of lids tends to impede such slidingand frequently the lid is distorted or bent during the dispensingoperation. Such bending or distortion of the lid during dispensing notonly results in rejection of the carton to which it is applied, but mayalso result in jamming and stopping the machines, causing considerableexpense and delay from machine downtime.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention toprovide improved means for dispensing lids in automatic packagingmachinery. Another object is the provision of apparatus for use incombination with an automatic packaging machine whereby lids may bedispensed without bending or distorting such lids.

These and other objects of the invention are more particularly set forthin the following detailed description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary top view of an embodiment of apparatussuitable for the practice of the present invention attached to the liddispenser base of a commercial rotary filler and capper;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side View, partially broken away and partiallyin cross-section, of the apparatus of FIGURE l, the apparatus having aslide in a first position and showing, in phantom outline, the slide andcooperating components in a second position;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4; and

FIGURE 5 is an overall pictorial View of the apparatus of the presentinvention in combination with automatic packaging means.

The apparatus of the present invention, as shown in the drawings, isespecially adapted for lifting a preselected part of a stack of lids inan automatic packaging machine. The apparatus includes lifting meanswhich are actuated in timed relation to means for sliding the icebottommost lid from a stack of lids so that the Weight of the stack oflids will not interfere with the sliding. Although it is contemplatedthat the apparatus is suitable for use with other type lids, itsprincipal intended use is with aluminium lids and particularly withaluminum lids which include an opening tab.

In general, with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, the apparatus of thepresent invention comprises a slide 11 having a pair of spaced bushings13 and 15, a lever 41 pivotally connected to the slide 11 whichcooperates with a crankshaft 31 to move the slide 11 from a firstposition to a second position, and a pair of arm assemblies 51 and 53which are journaled to the bushings 13 and 15, and which are spaced onopposite sides of a stack of lids 71. y

The lifting effect on a portion of the stack of lids is achieved bymoving the slide 11 from a first position, as shown specifically inFIGURE 2, to a second position, shown in phantom outline, therebysimultaneously moving the arm assemblies 51 and 53 rotatably aroundbushings 13 and 15 and linearly in the direction of movement of theslide 11 so that jaw members 61 and 63 move generally inwardly andupwardly to grasp and lift a preselected part of the stack of lids.

In the specific embodiment illustrated, the slide 11 is of generallyrectangular shape with the bushings 13 and 15 disposed in space relationat one end of the rectangle and an aperture 17 located at the oppositeend of the slide.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, the entire slide is adapted to be mounted in`a track 23 which confines the lateral movement of the slide when it ismoved from a first position to a second position. The track 23 isdefined by slide backing plate 2S in combination with gibs 27 and 29 andgib plates 31 and 33.

As best seen in FIGURE 3 the slide backing plate is fastened, -bywelding or like means, at right angles to a base plate 22 to provide -aslide track assembly which may be appropriately located with respect tothe stack of lids 71, a convenient method of location being to fastenthe slide track assembly to the lid dispenser base 73.

The slide 11 is actuated from a first position to a second position bythe lever 41 in combination with the crankshaft 31. The crankshaft 31operates in timed relation with automatic dispensing, movement, andfiling of cartons (as shown in FIGURE 5) and with automatic lid slidingmeans (not shown) for removal of lids from the stack 71. The crankshaft31 is coupled with the lever 41 by connecting rod 42. The lever 41 ispivotally connected to the slide backing plate 25 with a shoulder bolt43 to provide a fulcrum intermediate between opposite ends of the lever.The lever 41 is provided with a slot 45 at the end opposite theconnecting rod which is engaged with the aperture 17 of slide 11 by ashoulder bolt 47. The slot 45 is sufciently long to accommodatevariations in distance from the fulcrum of the lever to the slideaperture caused by moving the slide in the track from a first positionto a second position.

The arm assemblies 51 and 53, best seen in FIGURES l and 2, which arejournaled to the bushings 13 and 15 of the slide 11 are restrained fromgravitational rotation by adjustable stops 55 and 57, which may behexhead bolts and lock nuts. As the slide 11 moves from a first positionto a second position, as shown in FIGURE 2, the arm assemblies move froma horizontally disposed position to an inclined position. This serves tomove the face of the jaw members 61 and 63 inward and upward to graspand lift a pre-selected portion of the stack of lids 71. To avoiddamaging the lids as they are grasped, the jaw members are faced with asuitable soft resilient material 65, such as neoprene, Teflon or thelike, As seen in FIGURES l and 2, the jaw members are preferablycircularly concave in one plane to conform to the circular edge shape ofthe lids and preferably convex in a perpendicular plane to provide asuitable shape for initial contact with the edge of the lids, althoughother shapes are also considered suitable as will be readily apparent toone skilled in the art.

In operation, the slide 11 is actuated -by the lever 41 in cooperationwith the crankshaft 31 from a rst position to a second position in timedrelation so that the arm assemblies 51 and 53 are moved to a positionsuch that the jaw members 61 and 63 have grasped and lifted apre-selected portion of the stack of lids 71 before sliding means engagethe bottommost lid of the stack to slide the lid from the stack. Whenthe slide is moved from the second position to the first position, thestack is released momentarily by the jaw members to permit escape fromthe lifted part of the stack of at least one lid,

It is readily apparent that various modifications may be made to theapparatus of the present invention by one skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention which is defined in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In packaging apparatus which includes means for sliding a lid fromthe bottom of a stack of lids, the combination comprising lifting meansadapted to engage and lift at least a portion of the stack of lidsadjacent the bottom lid of the stack and means actuating said liftingmeans so as to relieve the Weight of a portion of the stack from thebottom lid while the lid is removed by the sliding means, said liftingmeans comprising a slide and at least two arms rotatably mounted to saidslide, each of said arms having jaws attached thereto, said slide beingadapted to move from a first position wherein said jaws are adjacent thestack to a second position wherein said jaws engage and lift the stackof lids adjacent the bottom lid of the stack by said actuating means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lifting means comprises a slidehaving two bushings mounted thereon, an arm rotatably attached to eachof said bushings, each of said arms having jaws attached thereto, aslide track wherein said slide is engaged, and said actuating meanscomprises a lever and a connecting rod, said connecting rod beingrotatably attached to the end of said lever and said connecting rodbeing actuated in timed reciprocating motion so as to move the end ofsaid lever from a first position to a second position, said lever beingpivotally mounted and attached to said slide so as to move said slidefrom a first position wherein said jaws are adjacent the stack of lidsto a second position wherein said jaws engage and lift the stack of lidsadjacent the bottom lid of the stack when actuated by said connectingrod.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,063,209 1l/l962 Neal 271-44RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Primary Examiner.

